ACTION FOR LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS "REPRESSION IS A BIG MISTAKE"

AMSTERDAM - In over 25 cities in 16 countries, among which Amsterdam, there
will be actions for legalization of drugs on June 6th, 7th and 8th. The
worldwide struggle against the anti-drug war, the "Global Days against the
Drug War", is taking place on the eve of the three-day meeting of the
United Nations about global drug policy. It is a sequel to the
international actions last year during the European Summit in Amsterdam.

The aim is to convince public opinion and authorities of the necessity to
legalize drugs. Originally, the UN was going to take a critical look at
current anti-drug policies. This point has been removed from the agenda,
however. The UN will only discuss the question whether all countries have
in the past years kept to the agreed repression of drugs.

"When proponents of drug legalization realised what the UN wants to talk
about, they have united into an alliance", says F. Polak of the Drug Policy
Foundation in Amsterdam. "It is incredible that in New York there will be
no evaluation of the effectiveness of current policy." Polak is not
unsatisfied with the Dutch policy of tolerance. "Elsewhere, we see a lot of
appreciation for the Dutch system, in health care and at lower levels of
administration, but political authorities are afraid. In fact a few
prominent politicians should have the courage to say that the repression of
drugs has been a big mistake. Then public opinion will be won in no time.
At the moment people are so misinformed. Even the health organisation of
the UN has problems in bringing out that alcohol is much more damaging than
cannabis."

After legalization, the social consequences of drug use would be much
smaller, according to Polak. "Repression of drugs stimulates illegal trade,
crime, and unsafe patterns of use. The profits that go to criminals now,
can be used in much better ways. If the UN realises that a discussion is
needed about policy as carried out so far, we will have reached our goal".

On June 6th there will be a musical parade in the center of Amsterdam, and
a major party at night. A political debate in Krasnapolsky, on June 7th,
will be the culmination of the Dutch actions. The grand final will be a day
later, in New York with a big demonstration at the square in front of the
UN building. There are actions in San Francisco, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Sidney
and other cities as well.

(c) Algemeen Dagblad, Amsterdam.